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Bret Bielema claps back at Ole Miss fan, SEC graphic showing football 'gauntlet'

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•05/30/25•

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Illinois HC Bret Bielema
(Kim Klement | USA TODAY Sports)

During this week’s spring meetings in Destin, the SEC presented documents and graphics illustrating the “gauntlet” of the regular season. It showed the strength of the conference through multiple metrics such as Massey Ratings, SP+ and strength of record.

Illinois coach Bret Bielema then countered with numbers of his own. Then, when an Ole Miss fan called him out for his departure from Arkansas, he clapped back.

Bielema pointed out the way college football has changed in the last four years thanks to NIL and the transfer portal. He argued rosters are now more “balanced” than before, and he said to look at head-to-head records against power conferences during that window, especially considering the discussed Big Ten-SEC scheduling partnership.

“There is no better reality than recent history for reality. Maybe 2025 season, playoffs and bowl matchups head to head. Cant [sic] wait for that press release,” Bielema said at the end of his post.

Bielema, of course, coached in the SEC at Arkansas from 2013-17 following an impressive tenure at Wisconsin. He went 29-24 with the Razorbacks, including an 11-29 mark in conference play. An Ole Miss fan pointed out that record in response to Bielema’s post, and the coach answered with his record against the Rebels.

“Yes I do and the SEC was an awesome experience and extremely tough before today’s rules. And also remember going 3-1 vs Ole Miss during that time,” Bret Bielema wrote, along with a shrugging emoji.

The SEC’s documents illustrated the rigor of the conference schedule. In the last 10 years, the conference showed it only has two teams outside the Top 50 in both average strength of record and average Massey Rating. That, the league said, showed “clear evidence of the rigor of its regular season compared to other schools.”

How conference strength impacts CFP talks

The SEC and Big Ten are widely seen as the top two conferences in college football, and they are helping lead the charge when it comes to the College Football Playoff conversation. Future formats were a big part of the discussion in Destin this week, including a 5-plus-11 model that appears to be gaining steam.

Under that format, the five highest-ranked conference champions would be in the bracket, along with 11 at-large teams. SEC coaches voiced support for it although the previously reported model included a 4+4+2+2+1 bracket. That would include four bids each for the SEC and Big Ten, two bids apiece for the Big 12 and ACC, a spot for the Group of 6 and three at-large spots.

On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed Big Ten athletics directors discussed the 5-plus-11 format on their weekly call this week. Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger added the sense is most would not support the model if the SEC stays at eight league games.